Wizz Air pilot Tom Copestake told Express that working in the cockpit isn’t just about manual control. It’s mostly about programming the autopilot and maintaining strict safety protocols. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done before passengers even board, like planning the route and filling out paperwork. The pilot talked about the technical aspects of the job, but he also mentioned the aesthetic benefits. He said that one of the best parts is getting to see places that most people don’t get to see, like the snowy Alps at dawn. He said that seeing those places makes you realize how big the planet is.
Wizz Air pilot Tom Copestake spilled the beans on what really goes down in the cockpit during flights and shared some behind-the-scenes details that passengers never see, according to Express.
The pilot said that most people have no idea how much work goes on behind the scenes of a flight. That includes things like preparing documents and planning the route, as well as flying the plane at an altitude of over 12 kilometers.
But aside from the technical stuff, there are also special moments that only the crew gets to experience.
“There are parts of the Earth that we look down on from above where no human has ever set foot. It’s an amazing feeling. You look at the endless snow, mountains, or desert, and at the same time, you feel very small,” Tom said.
The pilot said that one of the best parts of his job is taking morning flights over the Alps.
“Morning shifts can be rough, but there’s nothing like flying over the Alps with a coffee and a croissant, and a stunning view unfolding right in front of you,” he said.
Cowpstake also said that modern planes are highly automated, so a pilot’s job isn’t what passengers often imagine.
“People sometimes ask, ‘Do you just sit there and fly the plane?’ But that’s not how it works. Wizz Air planes are all high-tech and automated. We don’t constantly have to fly the plane manually—we program the aircraft, monitor its performance, and make sure everything runs safely and efficiently,” he explained.
The pilot said that a lot of the work happens even before passengers get on the plane.
“When passengers are told that the crew is finishing up paperwork, that’s actually true. There are a lot of things that need to happen for a flight to go from point A to point B. It’s a huge operation with a lot of people and teams working behind the scenes,” Tom said.
He also shared his own pre-flight ritual, which helps him get in the right mindset for work.
“Sometimes my alarm goes off at 3 a.m., and sometimes my shift doesn’t start until 6 p.m. But every time I arrive at the airport, the first thing I do is buy a vanilla latte and an almond croissant. It’s like a signal to my brain that workday has started,” the pilot admitted.